Nepal lies in the central part of 2500km long Himalayan belt. Almost 83% of Nepalese territory is mountainous. It is an underdeveloped country with vast natural resources such as water, minerals, forest, varieties of agricultural products and medical herbs. For the economic development of the country exploitation and proper use of such valuable resources, especially mineral resources, is extremely important. The mountainous region and the geological environment therein are suitable for metallic, nonmetallic (industrial, gemstones and energy/fuel) mineral deposits as well as huge amount of construction materials, dimension and decorative stones. Continues efforts are required to find the more mineral deposits and exploit them for the benefit of the people. Minerals are the nonrenewable natural resources. Sustainable development of such resources helps to strengthen the national economy. Mineral exploration activities were at peak during 1974 - 1980 when Department of Mines and Geology (DMG) and UN funded Mineral Exploration Development Project (MEDP) was in action. They were able to delineate quite a few prospective areas and identify some economic, sub-economic and non-economic mineral deposits in different parts of the country (Fig.1). Now the Government of Nepal (GON) should prioritize exploration, evaluation and sustainable development of industrial minerals, high price metals, base metals, fuel minerals, precious and semi precious stones. It should also invite potential national and international investors to invest in mineral and mining sector and establish mineral based industries by giving some incentive to attract the investors in the beginning.
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